Non-slip clothes hangers

ABSTRACT

A clip for a clothes hanger having a horizontal bar of a first diameter has a body formed in a portion of a circle having an axis and a first diameter, the circular portion extending more than 180 degrees but less than 360 degrees, symmetrical about a vertical axis and closed at the top, a pair of legs extending from the body downward at equal angles away from the axis to a maximum width between the legs greater than the first diameter, and a length in the direction of the axis.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS

[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) toapplication Ser. No. 09/828,350, filed Apr. 5, 2001, which is aDivisional of Ser. No. 09/507,909, filed Feb. 22, 2000, which claimspriority to application Ser. No. 09/369,258. The disclosures of theseprior applications are incorporated entirely herein at least byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is in the area of hangers for clothing, andhas particular relevance to devices for providing a non-slipcharacteristic to such apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Slacks are purposely designed long to extend from the waist tothe heels. Their length requires that they are stored unfolded by aspecial hanger that hangs the trousers from the cuffs or, morepopularly, folded and hung across the horizontal bar of a conventionalclothes hanger. Often the smooth slacks will slip from the horizontalbar so that the hanging of slacks becomes a task of balancing them onthe bar. To counteract this tendency, many people and also retailestablishments, use special hangers with a double horizontal rod, onebar for suspending the trousers, the other, a resilient rod that issecured at one end to the horizontal bar and clips to it at the otherend to lock the suspended slacks between the bar and the rod. Thesehangers are fairly satisfactory in hanging trousers and slacks securelybut typically cause a marked creasing of the fabric.

[0004] This present invention is for a very inexpensive hanger forholding folded trousers and slacks, without any danger of slipping ofthe trouser legs, by clipping the legs folded over the bar of the hangerwith a cushioned plastic clip. Such a clip may be used with hanger barsof many sorts, including bars that may have a covering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a clip for aclothes hanger having a horizontal bar of a first diameter is provided,the clip comprising a body formed in a portion of a circle having anaxis and a first diameter, the circular portion extending more than 180degrees but less than 360 degrees, symmetrical about a vertical axis andclosed at the top, a pair of legs extending from the body downward atequal angles away from the axis to a maximum width between the legsgreater than the first diameter, and a length in the direction of theaxis.

[0006] In some embodiments the body and legs are formed from a plasticsheet. Also in some embodiments there is a lining of foam material on atleast a portion of the inside surfaces of the body. The foam materialmay be a plastic foam.

[0007] In another aspect of the invention a method for securing anarticle of clothing to a horizontal bar of a clothes hanger, the barhaving a first diameter is provided, comprising the steps of (a) foldingthe garment over the bar; (b) applying a clip having a body formed in aportion of a circle having an axis and a first diameter, the circularportion extending more than 180 degrees but less than 360 degrees,symmetrical about a vertical axis and closed at the top, a pair of legsextending from the body downward at equal angles away from the axis to amaximum width between the legs greater than the first diameter, and alength in the direction of the axis to the garment over the bar,directing the gap between the legs to the garment; and (c) urging theclip toward the folded garment until the clip snaps in place over thegarment and the bar, securing the garment to the bar.

[0008] In some embodiments of the method the body and legs of the clipare formed from a plastic sheet. Also in some embodiments the clipfurther comprises a lining of foam material on at least a portion of theinside surfaces of the body. Further, the foam material may be a plasticfoam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In the drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of theinvention:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a view of a clothes hanger with a plastic foam coveredhorizontal bar;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a cross section view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG.1;

[0012]FIG. 3 illustrates a horizontal bar covered with plastic foamtape;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the clip and arm of FIG. 4;

[0014]FIG. 6 is an end view of the clip of FIG. 4;

[0015]FIG. 7 illustrates a hanger with a clip suspended from on apliable plastic band;

[0016]FIG. 8 is an sectional end view taken along the lines 8-8 of FIG.7;

[0017]FIG. 9 illustrates a hanger with a pad suspended in the center ofa pliable strip pivoted at each end to the frame of the hanger;

[0018]FIG. 10 is a plan view of the pliable strip and pad of FIG. 9;

[0019]FIG. 11 illustrates a hanger with a pad resiliently pressedagainst the side of the horizontal bar; and

[0020]FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken across the lines 12-12 ofFIG. 11.

[0021]FIG. 13 is an elevation view of a hanger incorporating clipsaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 14 is a cross-section of a clip in an embodiment of theinvention, taken along the section line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] A conventional clothes hanger is generally molded of plastic inthe form of a ¼ inch circular rod having a semicircular hanging hook atthe top and having side bars angularly branching out to the ends of astraight horizontal rod or bar which is used to suspend folded trousersor slacks. This invention is for inexpensive methods for preventing thefolded slacks from slipping from the horizontal bar of an inexpensiveplastic hanger and includes covering an horizontal bar with plasticfoam, such as polyurethane foam.

[0024]FIG. 1 illustrates a typical plastic hanger 10 with horizontal bar12 covered with polyurethane foam. A section of the bar 12 is shown insection to illustrate, along with an enlarged cross sectional view ofFIG. 2, a preferred method of attachment of a strip of foam to thecircular bar. In FIGS. 1 and 2 a length of stiff resilient plastictubing 14 having a length approximately equal to the length of thehorizontal bar 12 and a diameter of about ¾ inch, is longitudinallysplit over its entire length so that the split may be pried open toexpose the interior surface of the tubing. A strip of ½ inch thick foamstrip 16 of the same length is wrapped around the exterior of the splittubing 14 and the edges of the foam strip are inserted into the split inthe tubing. The horizontal bar 12 of the hanger is then forced into thefoam covered split in the tubing 14. If desired, a thinner strip of foamstrip 16 may be applied to a horizontal bar 12 by using a splitresilient tubing of a smaller diameter.

[0025] Continued use with unbalanced loading of a foam coveredhorizontal bar may result in some rotation of the foam and its splittubing and a possible accidental dropping from the hanger. A simple andeffective method of preventing rotation of a foam covering is to extendthe split tubing at each end, as shown on the right end of the hanger 10in FIG. 1, and to notch the ends of the top surface opposite thelongitudinal split in the tubing 14 with a notch having a width equal tothe diameter of the circular horizontal bar 12. When the split tubing 14with foam covering 16 is applied to the horizontal bar 12, the twonotched ends of the tubing 14 are forced into a non-rotationalengagement with the curved section 18 of the hanger between the and arm20 and the horizontal bar 12.

[0026]FIG. 3 illustrates the horizontal bar 24 of a clothes hanger woundwith strips of plastic foam, such as polyurethane foam 26, that ismerely secured at the ends of the form with plastic ties 28. This is avery simple design and does not require a split tubing.

[0027] The preferred method of applying plastic foam to a horizontal baris to mold a tube of the plastic foam to the desired dimensions. Thensplit the plastic tube and slip it over the horizontal bar and cement itin place. The cross section view of the plastic foam would appear as inthe sectional view of FIG. 8.

[0028]FIG. 4 illustrates a plastic foam covered horizontal bar 30 withan auxiliary security clamp 32 that holds slacks on the bar and isuseful in preventing slipping if a full length hanging of two or morepairs of trousers is desired. Clamp 32 is two to three inches in lengthand shaped similar to an inverted “U”, as shown in FIG. 6, so that isloosely fits around the foam covered horizontal bar 30. It is attachedto an arm 34 which, at the opposite end, is bifurcated 36 and pivotallypinned to a side arm 38 of a hanger. A small circular magnet 40 iscemented to the top of the arm 34 which magnetically couples to an irontab 42 on the hanger side arm 38 to hold clamp 32 away from the foamcovered horizontal bar 30 during loading of the hanger. Of course, themagnet 40 and tab 42 may be reversed and will operate the same.

[0029]FIG. 7 illustrates the foam covered horizontal bar 44 of a clotheshanger 45 with a security clamp somewhat similar to the clamp 32 of FIG.4. In FIG. 7 the inverted “U” shaped clamp 46 loosely fits around theplastic foam covering 48 on the bar 44 as shown in the end view of FIG.8. The plastic clamp 46 is suspended slightly above the surface of thefoam 48 by a thin band of pliable plastic 50, such as polycarbonate, oneend of which is cemented to the top exterior surface of the clamp, theopposite end being cemented to the junction of the side arms of thehanger.

[0030]FIG. 9 illustrates a clothes hanger 52 with a foam coveredhorizontal bar 54 having an foam security clamp 56 in contact with thetop surface of the plastic foam 58 and cemented to the surface of thecenter 60 of a resilient strip 62 that is bifurcated at both ends asshown in plan view of the strip in FIG. 10. The resilient strip 62 hasan overall length, including the bifurcated ends, two to three inchesless than the length of the horizontal bar 54 and its bifurcated ends 64are formed to be pivotally pinned to the side bars of the hanger 52.

[0031] The resilient strip 62 is attached to the hanger 52 with the foamsurface of the clamp 56 in light contact with the surface of the foamcovering 58 at the middle of the horizontal bar 54. Then each bifurcatedend 64 of the resilient strip 62 is bent up and pivotally pinned to aside bar of the hanger 52. The resiliency of the strip 62 makes it easyto lift the clamp 56 from the bar; lifting the strip on either side ofits center 60 will urge the strip into the form of a “stretched S”,causing the strip 62 to spring upward into an arch, shown by the brokenlines. The advantage of this type of security clamp is that fabricsuspended in the hanger is held by foam from above as well as frombelow, making it ideal for clamping materials that normally slide suchas rayons and silks and when it is desired to hang slacks in afull-length position.

[0032]FIG. 11 illustrates still another clamp for a clothes hanger witha plastic foam covered horizontal bar. In FIG. 11, a thin pad of foam 65such as polyurethane foam, is lightly held against the foam covering 66on the horizontal bar 68 by a plastic sheet backing 70 which is securedto the angularly branching side bars 72 of the hanger near theirjunction. The width of the foam pad 65 and plastic backing 70 should beat least four inches and its length should extend below the foamcovering 66 on the horizontal bar 68 as shown in the sectional viewillustrated in FIG. 12. The advantage of this type of security clamp isthat slacks and trousers may be easily and very rapidly hung and removedfrom the cuffs while preserving the crease.

[0033] In yet another embodiment of the invention a spring-clip isprovided for securing a garment, such as a pair of trousers, to a bar ofa clothes hanger. FIG. 13 is an elevation view of a clothes hanger 74having a horizontal bar 76 upon which a pair of trousers 75 has beenfolded and hung. In this case the hanger bar is plastic, and thetrousers are subject to the effects of gravity, which will tendtypically to cause the trousers to slip to one side or the other, andfall off the bar.

[0034] In this embodiment one or more spring clips 77 and/or 78 areprovided, and clipped over the trousers and the bar to secure thetrousers to the bar. These clips can be of different lengths and otherdimensions, and may be selected for use depending on the garment to besecured, or the diameter and nature of the bar.

[0035]FIG. 14 is a cross-section of either of clips 77 or clip 78 ofFIG. 13 taken along, for example, the section line 14-14 in FIG. 13. Theclip is shown engaged on rod 76, as in FIG. 13, so the rod is also shownin cross section. The cross-section of clips 77 and 78 is the same. Itis only the effective lengths of the clips that differs. Clip 77 and 78each have a body 79 formed, in this example, from a relatively thin,heat-formable plastic sheet, the body having a generally rounded topportion 81 and a pair of lower legs 82. The diameter of the top portion81 may vary according to the diameter of a bar upon which the clip maybe used, and the angle and length of the legs may vary somewhat indifferent embodiments as well. The angle and length of the legs is toprovide an opening of a width W which is substantially greater than thediameter of bar 76 (FIG. 13), tapering to a width w equal to or lessthan the diameter of bar 76. Width W makes it easy for a user to place aclip over a bar having a garment folded over the bar, and the narrowerthroat w allows the clip to engage and stay in place.

[0036] Body 79 of clip 77,78 is lined in this embodiment with afoam-type resilient material 80 to act as a cushion and as a protectivecovering to avoid damaging garments upon which the clip may be used.There are a number of different materials suitable for this purpose,some plastic in nature and some rubber or rubberized. The foam materialmay be applied by an adhesive, for example, either before or after thebody of the clip is shaped. Clips of different lengths may be provided,as described above, for various reasons, from a quite short length tonearly as long as the bar. Further, the foam covering may not extend tothe bottom of legs 82.

[0037] In preferred embodiments, when not used to clip a garment, suchas trousers, to the bar of a hanger, the clips may be stored by clippingto the bar or to any other part of the hanger, where they will be readyat hand for use.

I claim:
 1. A clip for a clothes hanger having a horizontal bar of afirst diameter, the clip comprising: a body formed in a portion of acircle having an axis and a first diameter, the circular portionextending more than 180 degrees but less than 360 degrees, symmetricalabout a vertical axis and closed at the top; a pair of legs extendingfrom the body downward at equal angles away from the axis to a maximumwidth between the legs greater than the first diameter; and a length inthe direction of the axis.
 2. The clip of claim 1 wherein the body andlegs are formed from a plastic sheet.
 3. The clip of claim 1 furthercomprising a lining of foam material on at least a portion of the insidesurfaces of the body.
 4. The clip of claim 1 wherein the foam materialis a plastic foam.
 5. A method for securing an article of clothing to ahorizontal bar of a clothes hanger, the bar having a first diameter,comprising the steps of: (a) folding the garment over the bar; (b)applying a clip having a body formed in a portion of a circle having anaxis and a first diameter, the circular portion extending more than 180degrees but less than 360 degrees, symmetrical about a vertical axis andclosed at the top, a pair of legs extending from the body downward atequal angles away from the axis to a maximum width between the legsgreater than the first diameter, and a length in the direction of theaxis to the garment over the bar, directing the gap between the legs tothe garment; and (c) urging the clip toward the folded garment until theclip snaps in place over the garment and the bar, securing the garmentto the bar.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the body and legs of theclip are formed from a plastic sheet.
 7. The method of claim 5 whereinthe clip further comprises a lining of foam material on at least aportion of the inside surfaces of the body.
 8. The method of claim 5wherein the foam material is a plastic foam.